Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino | Signal Rock interrogates the Filipino diaspora

It's fitting to think of Signal Rock as a companion piece to Chito Roño's Badil (2013,) as they both deal with the rhythms of small town life. But while Badil is a thriller with sinister overtones, Signal Rock is a drama that ends up being more uplifting than expected.

Set in the 1990s, Intoy (Christian Bables) lives a humdrum life in a small island town. He works many jobs as a sort of impromptu fixer: he's an emcee, speechwriter, errand boy, even small town political mover and shaker. He receives calls from his OFW sister Vicky at Signal Rock, the only place in the town that can receive a cellphone signal. Vicky is one of the town's success stories: the most successful endpoint is having the town's women marrying foreigner husbands and moving abroad. When Vicky asks her brother for help sorting out a domestic dispute, Intoy takes up the challenge and rallies the whole town to help his sister, creating an elaborate facade so that Vicky can gain custody of her daughter.

Many OFW films focus on the plight of the worker or emigrant as they live in a completely different culture. In Signal Rock, that dynamic is turned around, focusing on the people left behind. Some of these people are not left behind by choice, and that frustration is echoed throughout the film, especially the ending. There are few (if any) local films that perfectly capture the nuances of small town living, and this one nails it. Here, favors become currency, and there is a spirit of community in a place where everyone knows everyone else. Rumors and hearsay add to a sort of local mythology, helping build a self contained, living ecosystem. And (this is something I've personally experienced) people tend to be more willing to forgive and forget. The film becomes genuinely exciting once Intoy sets out on his quest, even though all he essentially does is fill up some paperwork.

The end of the film becomes an ode to the small town, championing the simple lives Intoy and co. lead, showing that there is little compare to life's simple joys. Signal Rock is a well-acted, fascinating film that I fear will fall under the radar. It needs some love in cinemas, and it comes highly recommended.